The CDU presidium and the executive board of the Bundestag faction are meeting today under interim leader Alexander Hoffmann (CSU). Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz had already spoken with CSU leader Markus Söder over the weekend – both have the right to propose candidates. Merz wants to reach a decision swiftly.
The most promising candidate is considered to be Chief of Staff Thorsten Frei (CDU). If he becomes faction leader, a cabinet reshuffle would be necessary. Merz indicated openness to this in the ZDF summer interview: “It could be an opportunity to think again about the composition of the federal government.” Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and CDU Secretary-General Carsten Linnemann are also being discussed.
Spahn resigned on Saturday after it became known that he and his husband had a child via a surrogate mother in the United States – a violation of the ban in Germany, which Spahn as a CDU politician had supported. There was cross-party criticism, especially from within the Union itself.
Green Party co-leader Franziska Brantner called on Merz in the ARD summer interview to use the opportunity for a fresh start: “Now tabula rasa, we’re starting anew.” The CDU state leader of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Daniel Peters, urged in Politico’s “Berlin Playbook Podcast” to make quick decisions so as not to burden the election campaign. Elections are being held in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6 – state premier Sven Schulze (CDU) told MDR that the debate about Spahn had damaged the CDU. Brandenburg CDU MP Sebastian Steineke, however, sees it as a chance for a new beginning.
Source: Tagesschau
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